LeftyBassist.com

I picked up a P bass from the players series, black with maple board. I played a few of the new lefty Players Series basses at my local shop and didn't notice any quality control issues on any of them. Necks felt good on them all, intonation was on, set up was decent.

I don't really need another P bass but I couldn't resist. For some of the more questionable places I fly to I think these players series basses will be a great option. And I LOVE the new pickup in the P bass. I think it sounds killer. Kind of an obscure reference but I am a big fan of Eric Avery's p bass tone from the '86-91 original run of Jane's Addiction and the big reason I couldn't resist this bass is it sounds uncannily like the bass tone on the studio albums when plugged straight into an amp. Clear and crisp without being overly bright and with really good lows, great classic midrange presence. Given their price the tone of these right out of the case is excellent. And the bass I got is lightweight, I'm guessing around 8.5lbs (comparing it to my other basses that I've weighed on a digital scale).

I swapped to a black Warmoth pickguard and changed the hardware to a Hipshot Kickass bridge (great bridge!) and Hipshot tuners. I will eventually swap the pots and jack to sturdier ones, chiefly because that seems to be the main criticism of these basses, but for now the stock ones are working fine.

I agree that with mim Fender guitars it can be better to try them in hand over ordering online, but the lefty basses I played were all good. I'd be happy to own any of them. In fact they had a blue p bass I'd have likely come home with too but it sold before i got around to buying. But it was real nice.

I'd say if anyone is looking for an affordable Fender bass definitely check these out.

Bass looks awesome Andrew. Which Hip Shot tuners did you use and were they drop in replacements? I've been thinking about snagging a polar white one and doing similar hardware upgrades.
Good to hear the stock pick up cuts it.

Yeah, looks badass. Hipshot does make great drop in tuners for MIM basses. Had a set a while back. Huge improvement over the garbage stock hardware !

Matt, do you happen to know the model of the Hipshots?

Here ya go

https://hipshotproducts.com/collections ... ng-machine

Thanks

They're the HB7 tuners. Yes, drop in replacements. They came with bushings too but the stock bushings in the headstock holes work fine. Really nice improvement.

Yes, I'm digging the white P bass too. I've always wanted a white P bass. Shoulda jumped on the one Matt recently sold.

I know black basses are kind of a thorn for lefties because it's often the only finish we get, but I'm a fan of black basses and love a good black rock and roll p bass.

If I get the fever for a PBass again, this is what I’ll go with. As much as I loved that white AmPro that I sold, I realized I just don’t play a P enough to justify an expensive one. Mine funded-gasp- a mod shop jazz, which turned out awesome.

By the way, the Warmoth guard was a direct replacement right?

Yes, direct replacement too.

Yes, that's part of it for me too. I've amassed way too many basses and have basses that are never getting played. So I'm putting together some cheaper back up basses and touring basses because I'm going to sell a chunk of my bass collection soon.

I know we see a ton of black lefty basses BUT..... not with maple fretboards. So this still really excites me. Especially with the black guard. Very Roger Waters-y. I like!

Looks great, Andrew. Glad to hear they excel in the tone dept. as well.

Do these have true lefty pots on them?

Black Fenders with maple necks were sort of the unofficial bass of the British post-punk scene. Off the top of my head, I can think of The Jam, The Stranglers, The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, and some guys from the Urgh! A Music War movie using them.

No, righty pots. They do have a usable taper to them, but apparently they're the weak link in the quality of the parts in the bass any way so I'll replace them eventually.

Looks great Andrew. Makes me want one. I like black basses too and you can never go wrong with black and maple!

I agree! Paulo has a sick looking black and maple jazz too. A classic bad ass look for a bass.

Hi to all. About the issues of the Fender Players... i recently bought a Player Jazz, and tested it in the shop with a Standard MIM (so same strings and amp): stronger sound from the new pickups. Perfect frets and electronics, my luthier told me the manufacturing was ok. I thought no issues until this evening when i read this topic. I checked the nut and yes, there is a greater space between the E and A strings, circa 1mm. Immediately i told it to the guitarist of my band, who has a MIM Classic 50 Stratocaster, and he answered me he knew that issue and it was also typical of the MIM Standards.
Anyway this is my Player: